A system of site licensing requires that all Canadian manufacturers, packagers, labellers, and importers of natural health products be licensed. Sites must have procedures in place respecting distribution records and product recalls and for the handling, storage and delivery of their products, and demonstrate that they meet good manufacturing practice requirements.

 

Product License

All natural health products require a product licence before they can be sold in Canada. Obtaining a licence requires submitting detailed information on the product to Health Canada, including: medicinal ingredients, source, potency, non-medicinal ingredients and recommended use(s). Once a product has been assessed and granted market authorization by Health Canada, the product label will bear an eight digit product licence number preceded by the distinct letters NPN (which stand for Natural Product Number), or, in the case of a homeopathic medicine, by the letters DIN-HM (which stand for Homeopathic Medicine Number). This number on the label will inform consumers that the product has been reviewed and approved by Health Canada for safety, efficacy and quality.

Click here for more information on Product Licensing.

Click here to download the Product License Guidance document.

Natural Product Number (NPN)

As of January 1, 2004, natural health products that have been authorised for sale by Health Canada will either have a Drug Identification Number (DIN) or a Natural Product Number (NPN) on the label. A DIN or NPN lets the user know that the product has undergone a review of its safety, quality and claims.

All natural health products require a product licence before they can be sold in Canada. Obtaining a licence requires submitting detailed information on the product to Health Canada, including: medicinal ingredients, source, potency, non-medicinal ingredients and recommended use(s). Once a product has been assessed and granted market authorization by Health Canada, the product label will bear an eight digit product licence number preceded by the distinct letters NPN (which stand for Natural Product Number), or, in the case of a homeopathic medicine, by the letters DIN-HM (which stand for Homeopathic Medicine Number). This number on the label will inform consumers that the product has been reviewed and approved by Health Canada for safety, efficacy and quality.

Click here for more information on Natural Product Number (NPN).

Drug Identification Number (DIN)

A Drug Identification Number (DIN) is a computer-generated eight digit number assigned by Health Canada to a drug product prior to being marketed in Canada. It uniquely identifies all drug products sold in a dosage form in Canada and is located on the label of prescription and over-the-counter drug products that have been evaluated and authorized for sale in Canada.
A DIN uniquely identifies the following product characteristics: manufacturer; product name; active ingredient(s); strength(s) of active ingredient(s); pharmaceutical form; route of administration.

As of January 1, 2004, natural health products that have been authorised for sale by Health Canada will either have a Drug Identification Number (DIN) or a Natural Product Number (NPN) on the label. A DIN or NPN lets the user know that the product has undergone a review of its safety, quality and claims.
To be marketed in Canada, cosmetics must be manufactured, prepared, preserved, packed and stored under sanitary conditions. The manufacturer must also inform the government all ingredients that are in the cosmetic.

Click here fore more information on Drug Identification Number (DIN).

Site License

A system of site licensing requires that all Canadian manufacturers, packagers, labellers, and importers of natural health products be licensed. Sites must have procedures in place respecting distribution records and product recalls and for the handling, storage and delivery of their products, and demonstrate that they meet good manufacturing practice requirements.

Click here for more information on Site Licensing.

Click here to download the Site License Application form.

Click here to download the Site License Guidance document.